Stop Touching (and watching) Us ... Please

About this time of year most people are thinking about turkey and maybe even traveling to see loved ones and family. For those traveling by air, however, they will be thinking about how they will soon be subjected to the prying eyes of the TSA. In fact, some people may be fortunate enough to get some love taps from these folks.

Now as someone who witnessed as a reporter the horror of September 11th, 2001 at the Pentagon shortly after the plane hit then covered its aftermath, I can assure you that I truly do understand the need for enhanced security. In fact, since I have a pacemaker I don't go through the metal detectors and need to get a pat-down before getting on a plane. I fully understand and respect what's gotta be done needs to be done. I even joke with the TSA folks who perform the searches since I actually feel some empathy for the job they have to do.

However, the latest round of security measures just goes too far. Not only does it violate the Constitution's 4th amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizures, but it violates a basic human right, namely the right not to have one's private areas screened and touched when there has been no crime committed and there is no reasonable expectation of harm.

What bothers me most is that we have highly trained and well-educated law enforcement officers who, if they did what TSA is allowed to do now, would be thrown out on the street. That is to say that police officers must have probably cause to pat someone down, much less do a body cavity search or x-ray someone.

I mean seriously, we have gotten to the point where TSA personnel who - and I mean no disrespect - do not have the education or training of a local police officer are allowed to see us naked and put their hands in our underwear and bras. There's something very, very wrong with that.

There have been suggestions by security experts critical of the TSA that we actually are playing into the hands of those seeking to harm us by adding layers and layers of so-called security because we are afraid of something happening. In other words, fear is driving the security - not a real or actual threat. And if that's the case, the terrorists have accomplished a goal of making us afraid of them.

This latest round of security measures go too far because they violate our human and Constitutional rights. By living in a free country we have to be willing to accept risk. And I think most people are willing to accept the risk of getting on an airplane. But I don't think they are - nor should they be - willing to accept the humiliation of exposing themselves to strangers just for the sake of flying.

To share your views and opinions as well as read about some real horror stories about these security measures, visit www.FlyersRights.org.